Isaiah 62

1 Because I am very concerned about [the people of] Jerusalem [DOU], I will do something to help them. I will not stop praying for them until they are rescued/freed [from their oppressors], until that becomes as apparent to everyone as the dawn [every morning], until people can see it as clearly as [SIM] they see a torch shining brightly [at night].

For Zion’s sake, will I not hold my peace, And for Jerusalem’s sake, will I not rest, —Until her righteousness, go forth as brightness, And her salvation, as a torch that is lighted.

2 [Some day] the [people of many] nations will know that Yahweh has rescued you, [his people]. Their kings will see that your city is [very] great/glorious. And Yahweh [MTY] will give your [city] a new name.

So shall nations see thy righteousness, And all kings, thy glory; And thou shalt be called by a new name, which, the mouth of Yahweh, will name.

3 [It will be as though] Yahweh will hold you up in his hands in order that everyone can see you. Under his authority [MTY], you will be [like] a glorious headband/turban worn by a king.

Then shalt thou become—A crown of adorning, in the hand of Yahweh, and A royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

4 Your [city] will never again be called “the deserted/abandoned city” and your country will never again be called “the desolate land”; it will be called “the land that Yahweh delights in”, and [it will also be called] “married to Yahweh”. It will be called that because Yahweh will be delighted with you, [and it will be as though] you are his bride [MET].

Thou shalt he termed no longer—Forsaken Nor shall thy land be termed any longer A desolation, But, thou, shalt be called Hephzibah ["My delight is in her"], And, thy land, Beulah ["married"], —For Yahweh hath found delight in thee, And thy land, shall be married.

5 You people will live in all the country of Judah like [SIM] a young man lives with his bride. And our God will be happy that you [belong to] him like [SIM] a bridegroom is happy that his bride [belongs to him].

For a young man marrieth, a virgin, Thy sons marry thee! And the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride—Thy God, rejoiceth over thee.

6 [You people of] Jerusalem, I have placed watchmen on your walls; they will [LIT] earnestly pray to Yahweh day and night. You watchmen, you must not stop [praying] [and] reminding Yahweh [about what he has promised to do]!

Upon thy walls O Jerusalem, have I appointed watchmen, All the day and all the night through, let them not hold their peace, —O ye that put Yahweh in mind, Do not take rest to yourselves,

7 And tell Yahweh that he should not rest until he causes Jerusalem to be [a city that is] famous throughout the world.

Neither give rest, unto him, Until he establish and until he set forth Jerusalem as a praise in the earth!

8 Yahweh has raised his right hand to solemnly promise [to the people of Jerusalem], “I will use my power [MTY] and never again allow your enemies to defeat you; [soldiers from other nations will never come again] to take away your grain and the wine that you worked hard [to produce].

Sworn hath Yahweh—By his own right hand, and By his own strong arm, —Surely I will give thy corn no more, as food to thine enemies, Nor shall the sons of the foreigner drink thy new wine, for which thou hast toiled;

9 You yourselves grew the grain, and you will be the ones who will praise [me], Yahweh, while you eat [the bread made from] that grain. Inside the courtyards of my temple you yourselves will drink the wine made from the grapes [that you harvested].”

But they who have garnered it, shall eat it, and praise Yahweh, —And they who have gathered in its clusters, shall drink it in my holy courts.

10 Go out through the [city] gates! Prepare the highway on which people [will return from other countries]! Cause the road to become smooth; clear off [all] the stones; set up signal flags to help the people-groups to see [where the road to Jerusalem is].

Pass ye through pass ye through the gates, Prepare ye the way of the people, —Cast ye up, cast ye up the highway, Clear it of stones, Lift ye high a standard unto the peoples.

11 This is the message that Yahweh has sent to [the people of] every nation: “Tell the people of Israel, ‘The one who will rescue/save you is coming! Look! He will be bringing to you (your reward/what you deserve [for the good things that you have done]); those whom he is setting free will be going ahead of him.’”

Lo! Yahweh, hath sent a message unto the end of the earth: Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Lo! thy Salvation, is coming, —Lo! his reward, is with him, And, his recompense, before him:

12 They will be called “Yahweh’s own people, the ones whom he rescued”. And Jerusalem will be known as the city that [Yahweh] loves, the city that is no [longer] abandoned.

So shall men call them—The holy people The redeemed of Yahweh, —And, thou, shalt be called—Sought out, A city not forsaken,